Blue Wave Sweeps through Belize City

Just twenty-three days from a municipal election, supporters of the People’s United Party descended in the city seven years after its last national convention. The Opposition, on Sunday, took full advantage of the opportunity to galvanize its base and give the Old Capital a show. They came by the thousands, men, women and youths from around Belize paraded with gusto to the convention grounds at the ITVET. Party leader John Briceño and executives were endorsed re-affirming to the mass gathering that the Grand Old Party is doing better than ever. Their mantra, ‘ready to lead and win,’ took center stage at the event. Aaron Humes has the sights and sounds.

Aaron Humes, Reporting

All around the ITVET grounds on this Sunday afternoon, we got asked the same question: just what was the size of the crowd that the People’s United Party managed to bring to the Old Capital to listen to three hours of political speeches mixed with entertainment? If those both inside and outside are counted, the final figure is likely not far off from the P.U.P.’s estimate of fifteen thousand. But more important for the party’s re-approved leaders, John Briceño and Cordel Hyde, is why they were there.

John Briceño

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“I am very excited; I am energized by seeing the amount of people that have shown up. We have support coming in from all the districts, from Corozal all the way to the Toledo District. We were aiming for between twelve and fifteen thousand and I believe we have made at least fifteen thousand, maybe a little bit more. But the people that we see here today is showing clearly, a demonstration that people are fed up of the Barrow/Faber administration, and change is coming; change is coming under the leadership of the People’s United Party.”

Cordel Hyde

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Leader, P.U.P.

“I was at the front for a while and then I ended up going several blocks to the back and that wasn’t the back of the parade. There was just much more blocks to go, so I don’t have any idea. All I know is that this was a heck of a crowd, and we’re just glad people came out, because people are finally saying in one voice that you know what, enough is enough. This is the time for us to stand up, and this is the time for us to effect change.”

Briceño and Hyde were endorsed in their positions along with the rest of the party’s National Executive, Anthony Mahler taking over as deputy for the eastern caucus, replacing Kareem Musa. Also reunited on stage were the two immediate past party leaders – Said Musa and Francis Fonseca – with Briceño, arms raised to cheers from the audience. With such displays as proof, Chairman Henry Charles Usher, reporting on the state of the long-divided P.U.P., reassured attendees that the wounds of the party’s infighting have been healed.

Henry Charles Usher

Henry Charles Usher, P.U.P. Chairman

“Today, February eleventh, is a historic day for our party. Today, you, the true owners of the party, have given John Briceno, have given Cordel Hyde, have given myself, have given all members of the National Executive a fresh mandate to serve. Never forget: you are our bosses; we are your servants; we work for you! I would like to personally thank you all for the faith and support you have given to me and the members of our team; I am humbled by it, we are all humbled by it. These are exciting times, my brothers and sisters. Yes, we have experienced some electoral defeats, and those are never nice. But we have emerged stronger; our mettle has been tested; you have remained faithful to your party through it all. I thank you, and I promise you, that when the P.U.P. wins, you will be the biggest winners of all. Delegates, your party is united; your party is energized; your party is strong; your city is ready, and you are ready to lead, and ready to win!”

The event also served as a coming-out party for the sixty-seven electoral candidates of the P.U.P. in the municipal elections. Belize City mayoral candidate Bernard Wagner and Dangriga councilor candidate Erica Jang, designated guest speaker, led the charge.

Bernard Wagner

Bernard Wagner, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belize City

“Send a message to Belmopan that we di come! The sixty-seven candidates of the P.U.P. in the nine municipalities across the nation are battle-tested, and we are battle-ready!”

Erica Jang

Erica Jang, P.U.P. Councilor Candidate, Dangriga

“Let us not forget, my people, where we came from, or how it all started. The P.U.P. mantra has taught us to serve, and serve very well. Today, I challenge my fellow P.U.P. members, leaders and executive to be more than ready; our women in the women’s group and all the arms of the party are ready. (Speaking Garifuna) We are ready to win, and we are ready to lead.”

The final word went to the man in charge of the winning strategy.

John Briceño

“My fellow Belizeans, I accept this task to lead this party with my firm promise to work with each of you to strengthen our party and to live our creed of social, economic and environmental justice. [Interjection] Adelante con el Partido Unido del Pueblo! We say boldly and with confidence that our family, our P.U.P. family, is the greatest political party in Belize. Today we gather together as a dynamic, vibrant and united Party with a message of hope and a plan to build a Belize that works for everyone. March the seventh will be the day of our rebirth and the beginning of our march to Belmopan.”

Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.